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Culture on Demand: The Next Big Thing
Let's get warm and fuzzy
By STAN STALNAKER
July
28, 2000
Web posted at 9:30 p.m. Hong Kong time, 9:30 a.m. EDT
Periodically, a new wave of "consciousness" hits the circuit of fashionable things to do in the self-improvement category. Often, the big trends involve an increasing emphasis on spirituality from a point of view that encourages individual choices about what to do and what not to do. And, as usual, each trend is often accompanied by more than a whiff of skepticism, brought about by an uncanny ability for somebody, somewhere, to try to turn a profit on any idea.
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Last year, it was all about Deepak Chopra, who proclaimed that his spiritual organization was "dedicated to changing the prevailing world view from one that views human beings as physical machines with thoughts to one that understands that we are conscious energy -- spirit -- disguised as individuals." Well, O.K., it doesn't sound that bad. Good old Deepak spends a lot of time talking about the relationship between the mind and body, spiritual consciousness, creating positive energy, and other topics that most people would find hard to totally disagree with, but probably don't spend all day thinking about.
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Like any good guru, Deepak has best-selling books, tapes, classes,
seminars and a virtual shopping list of things that, one would assume,
allow the consumer to "be Chopra," at least in terms of lifestyle.
There is the Chopra Center for Well Being, the Deepak online store,
and of course, Deepak culinary tips, including suggestions on how
to eat ayurvedically, to stay in a state of equilibrium with mother
nature.
Ayurveda focuses on six natural tastes that (if properly consumed) allow us to avoid overeating, sickness, improper diet and other food-related problems. Those six tastes are sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent -- and properly taken are surely the answer to our collective societal heartburn. Never mind that pungent isn't really a taste, and that astringent reminds me of some sort of cleaning solution. (Perhaps I'll stick with Immodium AD and jasmine tea.)
But, like I said, that was last year. This year, my money is on Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key), the ancient Japanese channel-energy healing treatment that is all the rage (in whispers) at dinner parties across Asia. Reiki has all the hallmarks of "the next big thing." It goes something like this: an ancient healing process linked to Tibetan Buddhism is lost for centuries. In 1914, it is rediscovered by a nice man, Dr. Mikao Usui, at a waterfall in Japan. Dr. Usui uses his gift of natural healing to help sick people and kick-starts the Usui Shiki Ryoho, or Usui System of Natural Healing, which is followed by thousands of Reike masters today.
Dr. Usui passes on his gift by training students to heal with their hands by simple touch, and for years the art remains hidden in Japan. Naturally, the art is discovered by outsiders. In this case, it was in the 1930s, by a woman from Hawaii named Hawayo Takata, who, as the legend goes, was treated for gallstones at a Reiki clinic in Japan and subsequently figured out how to charge vast sums of money to become a Reiki master. Obviously a few people bought in, because today the price is not so steep and there are thousands of Reiki masters who treat or instruct an estimated one million people, according to one of several internet-based Reiki organizations.
So, we have a vibrant history for a non-medical healing treatment.
We have Reike masters quietly performing treatments in cancer hospitals,
and openly practicing in holistic and private clinics around the
world. We have websites like www.reiki.org
and networks of online Reiki healers waiting at our click and call.
There are classes and products available...
Hmmm, we're just missing one thing...a telegenic leader. Deepak, where are you?
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